I'm new to the forum and the cavanning world and after recently buying a 1980's (or so I believe) Elddis Tornado caravan which unfortunately was absolutely gutted inside. Now I've managed to rebuild most of the units and the seating areas from pictures of one which was for sale not long after we bought ours but unfortunately I can't find anything which resembles the same curtain tracks and fixings as ours has. Has anyone ever seen these type before or know what fixings I need for the track? Secondly has anyone got any idea how the seating would work as it's meant to be 4 berth but as there was no cushions or seating in it when we bought it I have no reference as to how it should look. I bought cushions from various different caravans which I've made fit in mine but I don't know where the "matress" would go when not in use for the bunk bed above the long rear bench. I've attached a few pictures of how the van looks and hopefully someone can help me finish off my project so that I can finally use it as it should be used 😊
cant help with the curtain track, not seen that type before, it may pay to change them all to more modern and availlable ones,
as for the rear bunks, the seating usually have much thinner cushions that fold over themselves to form the seating area , then when used as a bunk they open out to form the bed, usually just for kids
have you taken notice of the much thinner wood used in caravans, for the cupboards etc, as you have to keep within the weight for the caravan so you dont overload it
Quote: Originally posted by Gaffaa on 03/4/2025
I have this 1980s I believe elddis tornado which came with a house I purchased. Would be keen to know if anyone is interested. I am based in Reading
Remember that curtain track when we had one in 1978: but caravans haven’t used that type for years. You will probably have the change it to a newer type. I am surprised there are still ones of that era about as ours finished up full of rot at about 15 years old.
I suspect that is an early 1980s model. The one we had was late 1980s. 1988 I believe, and the layout wasn't the same as yours. The rear bed was a "L" shape with an infil that made it into a small double. It had a different curtain track too.
There are certainly caravans about from that era, and the one we have now is a 1992 Wisp.
1993 we bought an Elddis Breeze upmarket to the Wisp. They only made it for a couple of years then dropped it. But we got shot of ours at 2 years old as that had serious damp at front panel, before it rotted like the Tornado.
Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 07/4/2025
1993 we bought an Elddis Breeze upmarket to the Wisp. They only made it for a couple of years then dropped it. But we got shot of ours at 2 years old as that had serious damp at front panel, before it rotted like the Tornado.
Just shows how much caravans of various makes can differ. Our one was 26 years old when we bought it, and it looked like new inside. No sign of damp at all and I checked it really thoroughly. We did have a bit of a problem at the front a couple of years ago but I managed to fix that sufficiently to probably see us out. Unless we live to 90 of course, then I'm not so sure.
On the Breeze the shelf above the gas locker was soaked whenever it rained and started to swell and split. Just could not find the source of the leak,dealer sealed all around the front under warranty but did not stop it. Traded it in with another dealer who fortunately did not check it for damp.
Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 08/4/2025
On the Breeze the shelf above the gas locker was soaked whenever it rained and started to swell and split. Just could not find the source of the leak,dealer sealed all around the front under warranty but did not stop it. Traded it in with another dealer who fortunately did not check it for damp.
Strange the way it goes isn't it, and at only a few years old! I found the source of the problem with mine to be a couple of small cracks in the "plastic" front just above the windows. I ground them out with my mini-drill and filled them with epoxy, then replaced the rotten wood from the inside. It looks fine now, not quite as original but it looks ok to us and we will probably be its last owners. We have no plans to change it. You never know though, I decided to change our last one, a 1988 Elddis Tornado, and that went within a very short time. Got a bit more than I bought it for too.
The front often got wet in Elddis caravans those days due to the sealant in the joint above the windows denaturing, removing the trim above the window allowed access to reseal.
Quote: Originally posted by Paul_B on 10/4/2025
The front often got wet in Elddis caravans those days due to the sealant in the joint above the windows denaturing, removing the trim above the window allowed access to reseal.
Yes that is a common problem and not just with Elddis caravans. They can't have been all bad though as ours lasted 30 years without showing any signs of the problem. Unless it had been repaired before of course, but if it was somebody did a very professional job as I could see no signs of a repair when I bought it.
Quote: Originally posted by Paul_B on 10/4/2025
The front often got wet in Elddis caravans those days due to the sealant in the joint above the windows denaturing, removing the trim above the window allowed access to reseal.
Yes that is a common problem and not just with Elddis caravans. They can't have been all bad though as ours lasted 30 years without showing any signs of the problem. Unless it had been repaired before of course, but if it was somebody did a very professional job as I could see no signs of a repair when I bought it.
It would depend on what years the caravan was built in as to what sealer was used. The repair is unnoticeable as the trim covers it, I did mine and used modern sealer the permanent type we used in the garage trade.
I also did mine before any damage was caused to the interior or structure as it was done when the damp report was relatively low.
Incidentally it was repaired at the same as the damp from the awning rail was reported and damp was noticed around the rear skylight.
Mine is now 22 years old and I bought it new so I know its history, there's has been no unusual reading in the last 10 years
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Topic: 1980`s Elddis Tornado *HELP*
via mobile 12/4/2023 at 6:40pm
